Faf du Plessis says Quinton de Kock is desperate to score big in the final Test against India at the Wanderers. 

The 25-year-old has struggled for form recently and last scored a half-century on 14 July 2017 (68 against England at Nottingham). He has not lifted his bat in 12 innings since.

In the second Test against India at Centurion, De Kock scored three consecutive fours off edges – the first flew past wide slip, the second to the keeper’s left and his third past second slip. His fourth edge saw the India wicketkeeper, Parthiv Patel, dive to his left and take a simple catch.

De Kock was dismissed for 12, having scored a duck in his first innings, and 43 and 8 in Cape Town.

‘The key to a player like Quinton is not to over-analyse or over-complicate things,’ said Du Plessis on Tuesday.

‘But this is normal for a guy who goes one, two or five Test matches without scoring runs. With Quinny, that’s the last thing you want to do.

‘His biggest asset is that he is a free player. When he’s on form, he completely shifts the pressure back on to the opposition.

‘Obviously, we know he wants to score runs. But from a team perspective, we tell him to keep that positive intent and when he gets an opportunity to score runs, to cash in. He will be very hungry to put in a play in this last Test match.’

The third Test starts on Wednesday at 10:00.

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